
With a record 58 reforms completed in 28 economies, Sub-Saharan Africa placed 3 economies among the top 10 reformers. Senegal moved up a full 19 slots, from 168 to 149. Regulatory reforms were introduced in 3 areas, and Senegal achieved the status of top reformer globally in easing trade. Burkina Faso also made substantial gains, moving to 148 in the rankings. A new labor code was approved, a one-stop shop for construction permits was introduced, and transferring property became easier. Finally, Botswana moved up 14 slots to thirty-eighth in the rankings. Among other reforms, business start-up was speeded up through computerization, and trading was improved through the use of an electronic data interchange system.
Of the 10 indicators of business regulation, easing business start-up was again the most popular reform. Nine of the 10 top reformers made it easier to start a business. For example, Senegal started a one-stop shop that merged seven start-up procedures into 1. The time required to start a business fell from 58 days to 8. Albania merged company, social security, labor, and tax regulations. And Egypt continued with reforms from last year, further reducing registration costs and paid-in minimum capital.